2 weeks ago
EXCLUSIVE: Global accumulation and income institution EST N8 has secured worldwide rights, excluding Bangladesh, to Rezwan Shahriar Sumit’s governmental play Master, which won nan Big Screen Award astatine this year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Sumit’s sophomore film, Master is nan first movie from Bangladesh to triumph a apical grant astatine a awesome European movie festival, signaling nan presence of a “New Wave” of Bangladeshi filmmakers pinch nan imaginable to execute captious and commercialized acclaim successful world markets.
Inspired by existent events, nan movie revolves astir Jahir, a celebrated precocious schoolhouse history teacher, who launches a bold, wide run for territory chairman, championing acquisition and women’s rights. However, arsenic he ascends done section governmental networks, his civilized foundations statesman to crumble. Nasir Uddin Khan plays nan coach who discovers really easy powerfulness corrupts.
IFFR’s Big Screen assemblage hailed nan play for its unflinching portrayal of really nan machinery of powerfulness reshapes nan quality spirit.
Sumit besides won acclaim for his debut feature, The Salt In Our Waters (2021), which swept nan Bangladesh National Film Awards, winning Best Film and Director.
The woody for world authorities for Master was brokered by Sophie Shi, EST N8’s Head of Studios, and Cathy Ni, Head of Sales and U.S. Distribution, who will present nan movie to buyers successful Cannes.
“Master is simply a defining portion of Asian cinema that bridges nan spread betwixt high-concept thriller and grounded societal commentary,” said Shi. “Sumit has captured a world zeitgeist done a uniquely Bangladeshi lens. We are eager to leverage this momentum arsenic we caput into nan Cannes market pinch our ngo to elevate blase Asian stories onto nan world stage.”
Sumit added: “It is incredibly humbling to spot really a movie rooted successful nan section authorities of Bangladesh is resonating truthful powerfully connected nan world stage. It proves that whether successful a forested hinterland aliases a world metropole, nan struggle for integrity and nan quality costs of powerfulness is simply a cosmopolitan story.”
Master is produced by Dhaka-based mypixelstory, a boutique workplace pinch films that person screened crossed BFI London, Busan, NYFF, AFI Fest, Göteborg and São Paulo movie festivals.
UK-based Kwanon Films, nan accumulation location down Chaplin: Spirit Of The Tramp, boarded Master arsenic executive shaper up of its IFFR premiere.
In a associated statement, Kwanon Films’ Ashim Bhalla and Carmen Chaplin said: “The historical triumph astatine IFFR validates what we saw successful Rezwan Shahriar Sumit – a bold sound pinch a cosmopolitan story. EST N8’s deep-rooted expertise makes them nan perfect partner to construe this occurrence into nan world distribution it deserves.”
EST N8 Cannes slate besides see Indonesian deed scary films Danur: The Last Chapter, directed by Awi Suryadi, and Janur Ireng from Kimo Stamboel; Tetsuya Mariko’s Dear Stranger, starring Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car) and Gwei Lun-Mei (Black Coal, Thin Ice); Raindance-selected The Invisible Half, and Julie Pacino’s I Live Here Now.
